Fan Of Beatrix Potter

SATURDAY SPECIAL

FAN OF BEATRIX POTTER — My favorite author? Beatrix Potter - the greatest children's book author of all time. Okay - I am an adult - but there is a 5-year-old still inside of me.

I began reading her charming collection of stories to my kindergarteners and found we were all laughing at the antics and escapades of her furry friends, although the story line is different to the age that is hearing it. Potter had the talent to create a story that appeals to children and goes into hilarious undertones to the adults who read between the lines.

Take The Tale of Ginger and Pickles. Here are two wonderful little friends who keep a shop together. Ginger, a yellow tomcat and Pickles, a terrier. The shop was partronized by all the animals in the town - including the mice, only they were understandably rather afraid of Ginger. However, Ginger usually requested Pickles to serve the mice, because he said it made his mouth water when he served them. Pickles agreed; he had the same feelings about rats but it would never do to eat their own customers!

And how about that coniving Benjamin Bunny, Peter's cousin, who was always getting into trouble, especially in Mr. McGregor's garden? The similarities between his thinking and my 6-year-old's are amazing.

Potter's characters include the hard-working melancholy Tailor of Glouchester (what a peach), ever so neat Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle (I would hire her in a minute to do my laundry) and of course the flopsy bunnies (typical prissy daughters - but in fur form.) Potter has opened up the world of imagination to every one who reads her tales. When I happen upon a little creatures in my yard, I begin to wonder about its tiny home - and find myself in Beatrix Potter's delightful world of fantasy. Her books are classics - as fresh today as they were over 80 years ago when she first set pen to Peter Rabbit.